NEWS ANALYSIS

By Julius Businge The Assistant Commissioner for petroleum exploration and production in the ministry of Energy Robert Kasande says the refinery to process Uganda’s crude oil will be ready in three years after government completing a feasibility study regarding its size, products and costs of the facility. The official made …

By Haggai Matsiko Tullow, CNOOC and Total get $2.9 bn oil deal amidst allegation of corruption What could prompt Tullow, CNOOC and, Total to disregard a raft of cases in international courts, a court injunction at home and a resolution of parliament and sign a deal with Uganda? Money. Possibly …

By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Opposition, donors divided on how to remove Museveni As President Yoweri Museveni struggles to get a handle on affairs of state a year since the February 18, 2011election, major donors say the political opposition doesn’t seem to be capitalising on the key issues and could be …

By Rukiya Makuma and Miriam Mukama Why Busoga, Gulu children fail and Masaka, Fort Portal excel Over the years, the eastern and northern regions have always performed poorly at the first major evaluation of a Ugandan child’s education cycle, the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). Over the same period, central and …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati President Yoweri Museveni’s Advisor on Microfinance, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, is in a pickle over dubious allowances she allegedly collected from the government’s main lending arm to the poor, the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC). A report issued by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Raphael Bakku …

By Haggai Matsiko Lawyers sneak ex-LRA commander Kwoyelo past conviction because of problematic legal framework and poor structure of war crimes division When the UPDF arrested Thomas Kwoyelo, one of the commanders of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels from the Garamba forests of DR Congo in March 2009, …

By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Being allowed to hold rallies recently after a long unofficial ban meant the jury was always out on opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Would he pull crowds? Would his message resonate with the public? Or would he self-destruct? At the rallies, it became immediately clear that supporters …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati As the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRM) celebrates 26 years in power, residents of Katebwa, a village that falls in Bunyangabu county, Kabarole district, which was at the heart of the bush war are yet to enjoy the benefits of their support for the fighters about 30 …

By Julius Businge So what if Mutebile reduces bank rate but lending rates stay up? The recent strike of traders against banks over high lending rates put Esther Nakitende in a tight spot. The clothes seller on William Street in downtown Kampala city followed instructions from the Kampala City Traders …

By Haggai Matsiko Besigye (1999), Bidandi (2003), who is next after Kyankwazi? Until recently, it was unheard of for an NRM party member to boycott summons by President Yoweri Museveni to the National Leadership Institute at Kyankwanzi which is respected as a sort of shrine where party folk go for …